A Shirvan Marasali prayer rug, East Caucasus,

Like many Shirvan Marasali prayer rugs, the present lot features rows of colorful jagged-edged 'flaming' boteh under and above a mihrab arch. Here the boteh, set on a dark indigo field, appear especially vibrant as a result of contrasting patterns and colors used in each flaming leaf. Whereas other Shirvan Marasali prayer rugs often seem static due to the overly geometrical treatment of design elements in the border, the present lot appears more dynamic. This liveliness is achieved by combining different border designs and by the organic nature of the madder-colored design-elements in the ivory border and the floating prayer arch. Two very similar rugs were sold at Sotheby's New York, April 10, 1991, lot 107 and Sotheby's New York, December 13, 1984, lot 49, formerly in the Oriental Rug Collection of Jerome and Mary Jane Straka.